Saddle Vehicle Engine Cold Start Control via Intake Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing saddle-type vehicles equipped with engines burning a gasoline-alcohol mixture are restricted from starting until completely warmed up, leading to inconvenience due to potential engine misfire and excessive load, as the air-fuel ratio decreases with increased air intake, causing volatilization issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an engine temperature detection system, an engine state determination system, and an engine control system that restricts the maximum intake amount to a constant value, regardless of engine temperature, to maintain a high air-fuel ratio and prevent misfire, allowing the vehicle to start smoothly before warm-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the engine is allowed to start with full air intake before warm-up, then the vehicle can start immediately improving convenience, but the air-fuel ratio decreases causing engine misfire and excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle valve opening degree is dynamically adjusted based on engine temperature. During cold start, the opening degree is limited to prevent excessive air intake that would cause misfire. As the engine warms up, the opening degree gradually increases to full capacity, allowing the vehicle to start conveniently while maintaining engine stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of throttle valve opening degree according to engine temperature conditions. By controlling the throttle opening to be smaller during cold start and increasing it as temperature rises, the system maintains appropriate air-fuel ratio while enabling vehicle startup, thus resolving the contradiction between convenience and reliability.
2Power
If the throttle valve opening degree is increased for acceleration, then the air amount increases improving power output, but the fuel ratio decreases and intake pipe pressure increases inhibiting fuel volatilization
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle valve opening degree is dynamically controlled based on engine temperature and acceleration requests. During cold operation, even with acceleration requests, the opening degree is limited to maintain proper air-fuel ratio and fuel volatilization. As engine temperature increases, the system allows greater opening degrees to provide adequate power while maintaining combustion stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the vehicle to start smoothly and conveniently without excessive load on the engine by maintaining a stable air-fuel ratio and reducing the need for waiting for engine warm-up, improving user experience and reducing discomfort during startup.
Implementation Method 1
an engine temperature detection means for detecting a temperature of the engine
Implementation Method 2
keep low the pressure inside the intake pipe of the engine, thereby facilitating evaporation of the fuel
Data Source
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AI summary
A saddle type vehicle (1) is equipped with an engine (4) which is capable of burning a fuel which is a mixture of alcohol and gasoline at an arbitrary mixing ratio. The saddle type vehicle (1) includes an engine temperature detection means (72) for detecting a temperature of the engine (4), an engine state determination means (103) for determining whether or not a state of the engine (4) is in a predetermined restriction region at which an intake amount is to be restricted based on the temperature detected by the engine temperature detection means (72), and an engine control means (104, 106) for controlling the engine (4) in such a manner that, when the engine state determination means (103) determines that the state of the engine (4) is in the restriction region, the saddle type vehicle (1) is allowed to start in a state that a maximum intake amount into the engine (4) is kept constant, irrespective of the temperature of the engine (4).